Peocess of and apparatus foe obtaining gold and silvee from



(No Model.)

. M. BODY. l

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING GOLD AND SILVER PROM TNNIN 0113sB'Y COMBINED ELECTROLYTIC AND AMALG-AMATING,PRQGBSSES.

Patented Jan. 8, 1884:

I v jz-vaeni fom I dfiazezfloez W .025" L/Zflj AIM- 4 ml, 0 C

Miciiiiit BODY, or

LTEGE, BELGIUM.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FDR OBTAINING GOLD AND SILVER FROM THElR OFlESBY COMBINED ELECTROLYTIC AND AMALGAMATING PROCESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,670, dated January8, 1884.

Application filed June .16, 1883; (No model.) Patented in England May10, 1883, No.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, MIci-rnL BODY, a citizen of Belgium, residing atLiege, in the Kingdom of Belgium, have invented a new process of andapparatus for obtaining gold and silver from their ores by combinedelectrolytic and amalgamating processes, ,(for which provisionalprotection has been obtained in Great Britain, dated May 10, 1S83, No.2,390, and patent in Belgium dated March, 31, 1883, No. 60,762,) ofwhich the fbllpwingl is a specification. 'j E l' In the specification toan application for Letters Patent which I have filed, hearin g equaldate herewith, I have described an improved process for the separationof gold, silver, and other metals from their ores by electrolyticaction, wherein the ores are heated with ferric salts in order to renderthe metals soluble so that they can then be readily removed by Accordingto my present invention, I further l prepared mixed with ferric saltsand roasted-is placed combine this process with an amalgamating processwhile the ore is subjected to the action of the electric current,whereby so perfect a separation of the metal is efieeted that theprocesscan be used with advantage with ores containing as little as sixteenounces of silver to the ten. For this pjurposel employ, by preference,apparatus ai -ranged and operating as I will now describeiwith referenceto the accompanying drawings. ,Figure 1 shows alongitudinal section ofthe apparatus, and Fig. 2 a cross-section of the, same. The ore asdescribed in my said other applieation-that is to say, groundfine, andeither treated in heaps with ferricsalt solution, or

combined lixiviation and electrolytic action.

inside a cast-irondrum, E, containing a number of cast-iron balls, F,and which is connected to the negative pole ofa dynamo-electric machineand has a slow rotation imparted to it. Through the drum passes astationary shaft, G, insulated therefrom, and connected to the positivepole of the dynamo-machine. From this shaft are suspended a number ofplates, fl-I, of compressed coke or graphite, dipping into a bathconsisting of a solution of ferric salts in which the ore is contained.The

l traction of metals shaft is made hollow and with perforations,

2,330, and in Belgium March 31. ounce.

the drum, and under the action of the current it takes up the silver,this being facilitated by the partial reduction of the silver. Themercury in the first instance adheres to all the metallic surfaces wherethe silver is deposited; afterward it agglomerates and. separates fromthe surfaces, thereby showing that all the silver has been taken up. Thecontents of the drum are then discharged into the tank Kbelow, and theseparation of the silver from the amalgam and of the latter from the oreis effected by any of the processes now employed for the purpose.

I am aware thatan apparatus for the exby combined electrolytic andamz-lgamating action has been proposed, consisting of a revolving drumforming one electrode of a galvanic battery, and beaters forming theother electrode of the battery, for subjecting the ore to thesimultaneous action of a solvent and mercury, as in Patent No. 83.091;also, that an apparatus for simple reduction and amalgamation, withoutelectrolytic action, has been proposed, consisting of a revolving drum,with or without balls, as in Patents No. 9, 04-5 and No. 249,925; and,also, that an apparatus with melted lead and electrolytic action hasbeen proposed, consisting of an open pan having two plates serving aselectrodes, connected with the holes of a galvanic battery, as in PatentNo. 274,083; but my invention differs materially and substantially fromthese, in that I employ an iron drum connected to one pole of abatteryor dynamo, and a central shaft insulated from the drum and connected tothe other pole of the battery, and having Having thus described thenature of my inlated from the drum and connected to the posivention, andthe best means I know for carrytive pole of the electric machine, whichshaft ing the same into practical effect, I clai1nserves for theintroduction of the lye, and has 1. The method of first subjecting goldand suspended from it the carbon precipitating- 5 silver ores to theaction of lerrlc salts, in eomplates ll, arranged and operatinsubstantially subsequent amalgamation of the metals with companyingdrawings.

mercury under the continued action of the I11 testimony whereof Ihavesigned my name electric current. to this specification, in thepresence of two sub- IO 2. Apparatus for effecting the separation ofscribing witnesses, this 8th day of June, A.

gold and silver from their ores, and the anlal- .1883.

gamation of the metal with mercury, consist- M. BODY.

ing of the drum 1G, containing iron balls F, and \Vitnesses:

connected to the negative pole of an electric L. Benson,

I5 machine, the hollow perforated shaft G, insu- A. HnssELs.

